Page 24 of Sinbound to the Highlander
From the tiny knot she saw on her mother’s face, she felt fear start to build up inside her. Had they decided to leave her there? Rightfully, she was not the Milleson’s child. Her worry grew worse when Balthair reached over and clasped her mother’s hand.
“Maither…” she began to ask before she swallowed tightly, “is everything all right?”
Her eyes flicked to Laird Ruthven, who had entered last. He went to stand behind Elspeth, and her stomach tightened. Why was he distancing himself from her? And why had she thought that there was something more between them than what it was—an attraction?
She knew her heart throbbed differently when his eyes landed on her, but perhaps, that was just her alone. He was engaged to her sister, after all. It would not be right for him to have feelings for her. But then, his eyes met her, and again, her heart hiccupped.
“Everything is fine, Freya,” her adopted mother said calmly, but the way she gripped her husband’s hand told Freya something else. “We spoke to Laird and Lady Lobhdain about how ye should be able to have access and share the benefits of yer heritage, because honestly, ye do belong here.
“We’ve decided that ye will come back with us for a few days, then Laird Ruthven will escort ye back here so ye can stay for two weeks. Then, ye can come to Cillock for a week. After that, ye will be here for a month or two. If war breaks out, God forbid, ye will stay here with Lord Lobhdain and his wife, so ye are safe,” Caitlin Crushom ended.
“We willnae be in the castle, because it would be strange, but will be in the village nearby, and can come in if we are under attack,” her father Balthair said. “But this is yer opportunity to let yer dreams come through,a bhobain.”
Again, a mix of muddled feelings ran through Freya. She felt out of place with her bland dress, countryside mannerisms, and ignorance of things that others took for granted. Freya did not want to break her parent’s hearts, and when she looked at Lady Lobhdain’s expectant face, she felt trapped. There was no way for her to say no, so she just nodded.
“That…seems fair,” she said, “Thank ye, Laird Lobhdain for including me parents.”
With his hands on his wife’s shoulders, the Laird nodded, “Ye’re welcome, Freya. We are grateful for yer parents who took care of ye, because if they had turned ye away, we wouldnae have seen ye. Just like our debt to Laird Ruthven, our debt to yer parents is substantial.”
“And we’re grateful for yer compassion and pardon,” her father bowed his head.
Laird Lobhdain glanced to the window, “We’re happy that ye came. I cannae tell ye how magnificent today has been. I feel God himself arranged this day, and in one fell swoop, so many questions, pain, and sorrow have been wiped away. I’d love to keep ye here, but I ken it is a lot to take in. If ye are ready, it might be the time for ye to take a safe trip home.”
Balthair stood and extended his hand to the Laird, which he shook. “I wish ye all the best, Laird Lobhdain and ye as well, Lady Lobhdain. I’m also very pleased to meet ye, Miss Milleson.”
Standing, Freya hesitated before going to embrace Lady Lobhdain. Her body was trembling slightly, and Freya smelled the faint scent of roses, and when she pulled away, her birth mother’s eyes were glazed with tears. “Thank ye…”
“Ye can call me Lady Grace,” Lady Lobhdain said kindly, “I ken it will be a touch too soon for ye to start calling me anythin’ else.”
Smiling in return, Freya embraced the Lord, who told her something similar, “It’s Laird Aidan for ye, Dear.” He said it curtly, but she heard emotions clogging his tone.
Her last embrace was with Elspeth who, stiffly tapped her on her shoulders. “Safe travels,” she said with a barely there smile.
As she turned, she spotted Laird Ruthven and said, “Thank ye, Me Laird, for all yer help today.”
Mayhap it was fanciful of her, but his eyes had a certain sparkle she had never seen before. “Me pleasure, Miss Crushom, and aye, safe travels. I am staying behind, as there are more things Laird Lobhdain and I have to speak over. But as Missus Crushom said, I will be there to escort ye back here next week.”
Disappointment was weighty inside her, but Freya hid it, “I’ll see ye then, Me Laird.”
Walking away, she shot a look over her shoulder to see him speaking with Elspeth, and a soft emptiness began to grow inside her. It might be a blessing to have found her lost family, but to know that Laird Ruthven would never give her a second look when he had the more refined version available to him was painful. It was best that she just let go of having any affection for him altogether.
“Freya,” her mother said, as the carriage came, and they entered, “are ye listening to me?”
Pulled out of her thoughts, Freya shook her head, “Pardon me, I wasnae. It's just…so many things happened today, that I’m still a little…in disbelief.”
Her mother nodded in understanding, “I ken how ye feel, but I was sayin’ that Miss Milleson. Elspeth seems like a nice young woman. I’m sure that now that ye will be with her, she can help ye adjust to castle life.”
“I’m sure she would,” Freya said with a convincing nod,if she liked me at all, that is.
